Inflatable dunnage

ABSTRACT

Air bags are provided along the length of the car and are inflated to apply pressure against the lading in a generally transverse direction. The air bags may act upon panels or upon a flexible covering. Various lading loading schemes are accommodated by applying different amounts of pressure to individual bags. Thus the problem of lateral shift of the lading is avoided or reduced.

United States Patent Holt Nov. 12, 1974 [5 INFLATABLE DUNNAGE 3,427,997 2/1969 Brown et al. 1. 105/369 BA [75] Inventor: Jan D- Holt, St Charles, MO. 3,673,968 7/1972 Bertram 105/369 BA [73] Assignee: ACF Industries, Incorporated, New primary Examine,. Robert 5 Ward JR York, Assistant Examiner Gene A. Church [22] Filed: 13 1972 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Henry W. Cummings [21] Appl. No.: 305,853

[57] ABSTRACT [52] CL 105/369 BA 105/369 D 214/10 5 D Air bags are provided along the length of the car and [51] Int CL B65d 45/00 are inflated to apply pressure against the lading in a [58] Field BA 369 generally transverse direction. The air bags may act 206/1316. 46 upon panels or upon a flexible covering. Various lading loading schemes are accommodated by applying different amounts of ressure to individual ba 5. Thus 56 R f C t P g UNlTEDe $32252 ZQ the problem of lateral shift of the lading is avoided or reduced. 2,819,810 l/l958 De Witt 214/1075 D 3,338,619 8/1927 Bartels 105/369 BA X 17 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures INFLATABLE DUNNAGE BACKGROUND This invention is directed to reducing damage done to lading in transportation vehicles, particularly box cars and overland trucks.

It is an object of the present invention to reduce damage done to lading during transit.

It is another object of the present invention to provide flexible means for reducing lateral shifts of the lading during transit in transportation vehicles.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means for reducing the shifting of lading in transportation vehicles and which means follow the contour of the lading.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means for reducing shifting of the lading which is adaptable to a variety of lading positions in the vehicle.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description and drawings.

THE DRAWINGS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Air bags are provided along the length of the car and are inflated to apply pressure against the lading in a generally transverse direction. The air bags may act upon panels or upon a flexible covering. Various lading loading schemes are accommodated by applying different amounts of pressure to individual bags. Thus the problem of lateral shift of the lading is avoided or reduced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention will be understood better by reference to the drawings wherein FIG. 1 shows a railroad box car 10 having a conventional truck 12 including wheels 14, side frame 16 and a truck bolster 18. Conventional coupling structure 20 is also provided. The car is provided with a conventional floor 22, a conventional roof 24, conventional end walls 25 and side walls 26 and 28 having conventional doors therein 27 and 29.

In accordance with the present invention, lateral shifting of the lading is avoided or reduced by providing lateral restraint means indicated generally at 30 and comprising a plurality of inflatable bags 32, 34. The inflatable bags may be made of plastic, rubber elastomcric material (which returns to its original shape) or from inflatable cloth-like material.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the inflatable bags are utilized to urge aplurality of panels inwardly against the lading. Guides or pins 42 or chains or other suitable means may be provided as indicated at 42 and 44 to guide the panels inwardly. As many panels as desired may be provided, three of which are shown in FIG. 1. The air bags and/or panels may be provided on one side only or both sides of the car.

Preferably each bag has its individual air valve. For many applications it may be convenient to locate the air valve in the door opening as indicated at 36 so that if desired the lading may be loaded and then the respective bags inflated to move the panels into engagement with the lading to provide lateral restraint. Alternatively, inflation could take place after the lading has been loaded through a tube passing through the car wall as indicated at 37 in FIG. I.

In another embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 2, a plurality of air bags 50 may be provided having a metal strip or strap 52 affixed to the bag having openings therein 54. Tacks or nails may be utilized to fasten the bags to the sides of the car, where desired, to provide lateral lading restraint. Alternatively, the-tack strip may be an integral part of the bag. Air inflation valves 56 are provided. If desired, these inflatable bags may be made of an inexpensive plastic or elastomeric material, such as polyethylene, and thrown away in the event that they are punctured. It is envisioned that the bags will be utilized in such a way that if one bag is punctured during transit, other bags will be appropriately located so that serious damage cannot occur to the lading if one or more of the bags are punctured. Obviously, these bags could also be applied to the ends as well as to the sides of the car.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a multi celltype construction indicated generally at 60 is illustrated. Here a plurality of bag members 6l 62, 63 and 64 are shown. Since each bag can be individually inflated through inflation openings 61A, 62A, 63A and 64A, greater control of bag expansion can be obtained. Thus where the lading is very close to the side or end of the car, for example, at the bottom, bag 64 would be inflated only a little, but near the top, bag 61 and bag 62 might be inflated considerably more because of lading location is more toward the center of the car at this point.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, a plurality of air bags are utilized in cooperation with a flexible covering 74. The flexible covering may be made of any suitable elastomeric or plastic material. Two bags 72 and 73 are illustrated but obviously any number of bags could be provided and act in cooperation with the flexible covering to hold the lading in place. The covering can be made to hold the lading tight and flexibility is provided depending upon how much each of the individual bags is inflated. For example, if the lading is near the center of the car, greater inflation of the bags would be necessary so that the cover contact, and hold the lading in place and prevent substantial movement thereof. The flexible covering has the advantage that it tends to protect the bags from being punctured. The flexible covering could be mounted on the sides and the ends of the car from approximately the bottom to the top of the car and a plurality of bags provided gradually up the side and ends of the car and inflated as desired to provide lading restraint.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a combination air bag and platen embodiment indicated generally at is shown. In this embodiment, a plurality of air tubes 82 are illustrated having a generally horizontal portion 83 and then the tubes curve around and have a transverse horizontal portion 84. The air tubes have inflation inlets 85 which are preferably adjacent the doorway Thus the lading may be loaded in place and then after it is loaded, the tubes can be inflated. The longitudinal portion 83 moves inwardly to hold the lading in place by themselves. The inflation of the transverse portion 84 moves a plurality of panels 86 inwardly to contact the lading. Prior to unloading some or all of the lading, it may be advisable to deflate some or all of the inflatable members to provide access and reduce tension on the lading.

What is claimed is:

1. A lading restraint apparatus comprising: a plurality of inflatable members mounted along the longitudinal length of a transportation vehicle; a plurality of panels mounted along the longitudinal length of the vehicle inwardly from the inflatable members whereby during inflation the inflatable members urge the panels inwardly to engage the lading; adjacent panels being urged inwardly by different inflatable members so that the panels are movable inwardly to different extents to provide flexibility in lading restraint.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein adjacent panels are urged outwardly by different bags so that the panels are movable inwardly to different extents to provide flexibility in lading restraint.

3. A railway box car according to claim 1 wherein inflation openings for said inflatable members are provided adjacent the opening of the car whereby inflation can take place after the lading has been loaded into the car.

4. A railway box car according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable members comprise a strip of inflatable material adapted to be tacked in place on the walls of the car.

5. A railway box car according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable members comprise a cell type structure mounted upon the walls of the car.

6. Lading restraint apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said transportation vehicle is a railway box car.

7. A lading restraint device comprising:

an inflatable member adapted to be mounted within a transportation vehicle so as to have a longitudinal portion extending along the longitudinal length of the vehicle and a transverse portion extending transversely within the vehicle, whereby each of said longitudinal and transverse portion restrain at least a portion of the lading from movement within the vehicle during transit.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein inflation openings for said members are provided adjacent the opening of the vehicle whereby inflation can take place after the lading has been loaded into the vehicle.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said bags comprise a strip of inflatable material adapted to be tacked in place on the walls of the transportation vehicle.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said bags comprise a cell type structure mounted upon the walls of the transportation vehicle.

11. Lading restraint apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said transportation vehicle is a railway box car.

12. A lading restraint apparatus comprising: a plurality of inflatable members mounted within a transportation vehicle and adapted to be inflated to restrain at least a portion of the lading from movement within the vehicle during transit; said inflatable members having a longitudinal portion and a transverse portion, one of said longitudinal and transverse portions engaging the lading directly and the other of said longitudinal and transverse portions engaging at least one panel which engages the lading.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the longitudinal portion engages the lading directly and wherein the transverse portion engages a panel which moves inwardly to engage the lading.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the longitudinal portion engages panels which move inwardly and wherein the transverse portion engages the lading directly.

l5. Lading restraint apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said transportation vehicle is a railway box car.

16. A railway box car according to claim 15 wherein the longitudinal portion engages the lading directly and wherein the transverse portion engages a panel which moves inwardly to engage the lading.

17. A railway box car according to claim 15 wherein the longitudinal portion engages panels which move inwardly to engage the lading and wherein the transverse portion engages the lading directly. 

1. A lading restraint apparatus comprising: a plurality of inflatable members mounted along the longitudinal length of a transportation vehicle; a plurality of panels mounted along the longitudinal length of the vehicle inwardly from the inflatable members whereby during inflation the inflatable members urge the panels inwardly to engage the lading; adjacent panels being urged inwardly by different inflatable members so that the panels are movable inwardly to different extents to provide flexibility in lading restraint.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein adjacent panels are urged outwardly by different bags so that the panels are movable inwardly to different extents to provide flexibility in lading restraint.
 3. A railway box car according to claim 1 wherein inflation openings for said inflatable members are provided adjacent the opening of the car whereby inflation can take place after the lading has been loaded into the car.
 4. A railway box car according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable members comprise a strip of inflatable material adapted to be tacked in place on the walls of the car.
 5. A railway box car according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable members comprise a cell type structure mounted upon the walls of the car.
 6. Lading restraint apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said transportation vehicle is a railway box car.
 7. A lading restraint device comprising: an inflatable member adapted to be mounted within a transportation vehicle so as to have a longitudinal portion extending along the longitudinal length of the vehicle and a transverse portion extending transversely within the vehicle, whereby each of said longitudinal and transverse portion restrain at least a portion of the lading from movement within the vehicle during transit.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein inflation openings for said members are provided adjacent the opening of the vehicle whereby inflation can take place after the lading has been loaded into the vehicle.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said bags comprise a strip of inflatable material adapted to be tacked in place on the walls of the transportation vehicle.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said bags comprise a cell type structure mounted upon the walls of the transportation vehicle.
 11. Lading restraint apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said transportation vehicle is a railway box car.
 12. A lading restraint apparatus comprising: a plurality of inflatable members mounted within a transportation vehicle and adapted to be inflated to restrain at least a portion of the lading from movement within the vehicle during transit; said inflatable members having a longitudinal portion and a transverse portion, one of said longitudinal and transverse portions engaging the lading directly and the other of said longitudinal and transverse portions engaging at least one panel which engages the lading.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the longitudinal portion engages the lading directly and wherein the transverse portion engages a panel which moves inwardly to engage the lading.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the longitudinal portion engages panels which move inwardly and wherein the transverse portion engages the lading directly.
 15. Lading restraint apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said transportation vehicle is a railway box car.
 16. A railway box car according to claim 15 wherein the longitudinal portion engages the lading directly and wherein the transverse portion engages a panel which moves inwardly to engage the lading.
 17. A railway box car according to claim 15 wherein the longitudinal portion engages panels which move inwardly to engage the lading and wherein the transverse portion engages the lading directly. 